Building construction



June 17, 1941 F. w. scH'uL'rz BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Fileq May 7, 19:58

s shets-sheet 1 4 llllllllf Jung 17, 1941. l F, w, SCHUL-rz l 2,245,611

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l Filed May 7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, `1941 n F. w. scHuL-rz v YBUIILDIlNG CONSTRUCTION zI sheets-sheet s Filed May 7, 1938 yI7/ 45 Da@ Patented June 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 claims.

My invention relates-to building construction, and especially to the solution of problems peculiar to the application of insulation and sheathing to the inner side of steel framed structures.

Where the frame of a structure is of steel and one -side-and especially the inside-of a wall is to be sheathed with insulating plates and a lining separated by furring strips, a peculiar problem is presented, as compared with ordinary wood frame construction. In ordinary wood frame construction the studding is rst erected.

and the insulation or sheathing for one side can be applied from that side and the sheathing for the other side applied from the othervside. r, in the instance of spaced double sheathing, the primary sheathing or insulation may be nailed to the wall, then the furring strip nailed to the assembly, and finally the inner sheathing or lining nailed to the furring strips. But in the instance of steel framed structures, it is preferable to bolt the furring strip to .the steel uprights, because it cannot very well be nailed to the steel, and this `is complicated by the fact that it is desirable to have sheathing-like layers of insulation between the steel uprights and the furrng strips which may be of wood. For this reason there is presented the peculiar problem l of applying the plate-like insulation to the inner side of the steel uprights before the furring strips are bolted to them, and finallyl applying the lining sheathing. This is somewhat vthe reverse of ordinary construction.

To avoid the cumbersomeness of pre-forming y holes in the insulating layers or sheathing which comes between the furring strips and the steel uprights, or of attempting to pass bolts through them toward the steel uprights and correctly receive the bolts at the uprights,` it is preferable first to attach the bolts to the steel uprights so that they extend inwardly, and then apply the insulation or rst sheathing, letting the ends of the bolts form their own h oles in the layers as applied. Q

This preferable practice presents the problem of readily mounting the head ends` of the bolts on the steel uprights so that their threaded Shanks project inwardly and away from the wall and are held at right angles to the wall with suiiicient rigidity to prevent their dislodgment or angular misplacement by the strains which they suier in the` application of the insulating layers and in the subsequent application of the furring strips which they are to clamp. One object of my invention is the provision of a construction and hardware therefor which solves this problem.

Another object of myv invention is the provision of a construction and hardware for attaching the rails-usually Wood railsextending between steel uprights of steel framed structures', which rails serve as a reinforcing backing for the sheathing, insulation, lath, or the like, as the case may be. l

'I 'he foregoing together with further objects, features and advantages of my invention are set forth in the following description of specific embodiments thereof and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan section of a corner of a steel framed structure to which insulation and lining sheathing has been applied in accordance with my invention;

Fig.v 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 2-2-of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is; an enlarged plan section taken on taken 4the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

one of my collar bolts;

Fig. 15 is a modified form of anchoring bolt;

Fig.l 16 is an alternative for the anchoring bolt,

where the nut rather than the bolt itself is anchored to the steel upright; and f Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a modified form of anchored nut.

I have illustrated my invention as incorporated in a steel framed structure with outer sheathing of sheet metal. Fig. .1 shows two side walls forming a corner, but it will be understood that my invention may be applied also to iloor and ceiling or roof constructions. The steel framing and metal outer sheathing may be more or less of the prefabricated type and the insulation and inner sheathing or lining may be applied in accordance with my invention to the standardized steel structure when heat insulation, sound deadening, lath, inside finish or the like, is desired a for the purpose which the structure is to serve.

Referring especially to Figs. 1 to 4;'the primary frame is formed by steel uprights which, for the most part, are Z bars 20, although a channel upright 2| may-be employed to frame an opening 22, such as a window or doorway. For the sake of reprotection or greater external durability,

the outer sheathing is steel sheets 23 riveted or welded to the outer flanges of the Z bars 20 and channels 2i. The salient corners of the external y sheathing are reinforced by inner and outer angle strips 2l.

My invention may be applied to the floor and ceiling as well, but I have here illustrated it as embodied in the side walls.

Each Z bar consists of an outer flange 25 and an inner flange 26, both` parallel with the wall, connected by a transverse web 21.

The illustrative lining here shown as applied to the uprights 20 includes a metal foil surfaced sheet 23, a bagasse board 29, an insulating blanket 33, such as kapok between burlap sheets 30', a builders paper, such as heavy kraft paper, 3|, and a tongued and grooved wood sheathing 32 for the finish lining. Wooden upright strips 33,

preferably at eachZ-bar 20, are employed for the two-fold purpose of compressing the blanket 30 and holding the blanket together with the board 23 and sheet 23 against the Z bars and for providing a furring strip to whichl the sheathing 32 (or lath, if desired) may be nailed.

In the application of this composite lining to the inner side of the Z bars, it is preferable to employ bolts passing through the inner flanges 23 of the Z bar, through the sheet 28,' the board 23 and the blanket 30 and through the wood strips 33 to hold the latter to the Z lbars. This in turn presents a peculiar problem in anchoring the bolts at their head ends to the Z bars, so that they will protrude inwardly during the assembly of the several layers and the application of the wood strips 33. In practice the bolt generally has to be longer than thedepth/ of the space between the flange 26 and the outer'sheathto prevent its displacement or angular msalignment when subjected to the variously directed stresses and strains as an incident to the application of the various layers and the strips, especially when .the bolt is to form its own hole through the layers. The bolt must be anchored against vrotation so that a nut may be threaded on the free end of the bolt. It is also of great practical advantage to have the bolt readily and quickly attachable and anchorable to the Z bar to minimize labor costs. It is also desirable that the mounting of the bolts be such that the use of bolts is optional, so that the steel frame construction may be standardized for use-where this type of insulating lining is not to be employed or where the insulating lining is not to be applied until some subsequent time.

' As my solution to the above outlined problems,

- I have provided a bolt which is best described as a collar bolt. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5A this collar bolt 33 comprises a threaded or partially threaded shank 33, a head 31, a collar 33 spaced therefromf and ajsquared neck 33 between the head and collar.

To cooperate with this collar bolt 35 the flange 23 of theV Z bar, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a keyhole shaped slot 43, the round head of which is of slightly greater diameter thanv that of the `bolt head 31, and the depending subslot 43' is square cut to make a preferably tight fit with the squared neck 33 of thebolt. The space between'the head 31 and collar 33 of the bolt is auch as will accommodate the thickness of, the

flange 23 with a preferably tight fit. It is preferable that these two tight tits be such that a hammer blow has to be employed to drive the neck down into the subslot l so that the bolt will be anchored by sumcient friction of the drive t to hold it against any accidental dislodgment.

The juxtaposed faces of the bolt head and collar aiord substantial bearing surfaces to hold the bolt against rocking in the slot. 'Ihe head and collar hold the bolt against axial movement in either direction. Because the cross sectional area l0 of the bolt at the neck 39 is considerably greater than at the shank 36, any bending will be in 4 the shank and not in the neck. Thus bending the bolt will not loosen its anchorage. The bolt of Fig. 5A, where the collar and head are of about the same diameter, may be applied to a keyhole shaped slot such as 40 either by inserting the head or by inserting the shank end of the collar through the head of the slot. But for most purposes and especially, as here shown, where the space behind the flange 23 is too shallow, the bolt will necessarily be applied by inserting the head through the circular part of the slot. If desired, the bolt may be made in the form shown in Fig. l5 where the collar 38' is of greater diameterthan the head and of greater diameter than the circular part of the slot I0. Thus the enlarged collar 33 will serve ,as a positive stop against the bolt being inserted. into the slot farther than thev collar, in which case it might drop 3o through the back side of the flange 26. The enlarged collar33' also aords greater bearing surface for the bolt to hold it against angular displacement for a given size of slot I0.

In Figs. 5 to 14, as an exemplary application 35 of my collar bolt construction, I have shown sequentially the lvarious steps in applying the variloiiis omponents of the lining illustrated in Figs.

Fig. 5 shows a fragment ofy one of the upright Z bars 2liv and the outer sheathing 23, representing the steel lframe and outer sheathing as it is originally constructed and presented for applicaticn'oi the insulating` lining.v The fragment of Fig. 5 shows one slot 40 in the flange 23, but

it will be understood that each'ilange 23 may carrya plurality of slots 40 at spaced intervals. Preferably the inner flanges 26 of all Z bars are, before fabrication, provided with slots l0 as standardized construction, since the slots I0 are not objectionable in those installations where a lining is not to be applied.

Fig. 6 shows the collar bolt of Fig. 5A anchored in the slot. This is done by the simple operation of inserting the head through the circular part of the slot and driving the square neck 33 down into the subslot 40' with a hammer blow 'to-Y seat it more or less permanently (although,

of course, if the insulating lining should subsequently be removed, such bolt can easily be re- 60 moved by an Vupward hammer blow).

Fig'. 7 shows the application of the rst lining element, which is the metal foil surfaced sheet 23. The sheet 23 is held parallel with the wall and pushed thereagainst, the protruding end ol 05 elalcht bolt punching its own hole through the s ee Next, as shown in Fig. v8, the second lining elef ment, which is the bagasse board 23, is applied in a similar way, the protruding end of each bolt punching its own hole through the board 23. "An ordinary bolt end will suiiice for punch-l ing its own hole through the usual bagasse board, but if the board should be 'of harder material, the self-punching may be facilitated by providing a more or less pointed conical end 33' for the shank, as shown in the modication of Fig. 15.

Fig. 9 shows, as the next step, the application of the blanket 30 through which the protruding ends of the bolts likewise form their own holes. If the uppermost collar bolts come near the top of the wall, or if some of the layer Ielements are fairly stiff, it is unnecessary to provide any further means for temporarily holding these layer elements in place, because the protruding bolts suspend the layers, and the friction between the bolts and the margins of the bolt holes punched through the layer elements hold the layer elementsI against retrogression longitudinally of the bolt and thus keep them from falling off over the free ends of the bolts.

The next step, as shown in Fig. 10, is the application of a wooden spacing block 4|, with a pre-drilled bolt hole, over each of the protruding bolts.` The spacing blocks 4I serve to localize the compression of the blanket 30.

Fig. 11 shows the application of the wood strip 33. The strips may run horizontally, but preferably they run vertically. The strips 33 are previously drilled with bolt holes spaced to agree with the spacing of the slots 40 in the Z bars. At each bolt hole the strips 33 are transversely -slotted as at 42 and countersunk as at 43 for Fig. 13 shows the subsequent application ofi/the paper 3|. The ends of thebolts do not protrude into the plane of the paper 3|. The paper is nailed to the wood strips 33 as furring strips.

Finally as shown in Fig. 14, the wood sheathing 32 is nailed to the strips 33. The possibility of the entire composite lining being moved upwardly to disengage some of the bolts from their anchoring slots 40, may beprecluded by abutting the upper ends of the strips 33 against some ceilinstance of the anchored nut, because there is less for the operator to hold xon to in applying the nut. The t of the nut is preferably such that it has to be driven into itsv seat in the subslot 40 by a hammer blow.

A standard bolt 50 may -be used in cooperation with the nut 46. When the nut, rather than the bolt head, is anchored, it will be understood that the method of assembling the layer elements ing or roof structure, or similarly abutting the uppermost piece of the sheathing 32.

It Will be understood that in the instance of the opening 22, the inner-flange of the channel 2 I, which is there shown in lieu of a -Z bar,.simi larly carries slots 40, in which collar bolts are anchored.

The applications of the various layer elements,

especially where the bolts punch their own holes, and the applications of the strips 33 are in practice apt to subject the bolts to severe strains, tending to displace them angularly, but the contact of the juxtaposed surfaces of the collars and heads of the collar bolts against the surfaces of the anges of the Z bars effectively prevents any such displacement and the anchorage of the bolts preserves them in proper protruding alignment at right angles to the plane o f the wall.

In Fig. 16 I have shown a modification where the nut, rather than the bolt head, is anchored in the keyhole shaped slot 40.` This nut 46 consists of a pair of collars 41 and 48 connected by a neck 49. The periphery of the neck 49 is of square outline, corresponding to the squared neck 39 of my collar bolt, and ts tightly in the subslot 40. The near collar 48 is of greater diameter than the collar 41 and o greater diameter than the' circular part of the slot 40 to prevent the nut being pushed entirely through the slot and lost. This is of still greater advantage in the o f the insulating lining will be varied from that described. After the intervening layers are assembled, the bolt holes in the strips 33 may be used as guides for forming holes through the intervening layers to register with the nut, or the bolt itself may be driven through the intervening layers to the nut.

In Fig. 17 I have shown a modied iorm of the nut 46 of Fig. 16, which is better adapted for quantity production. Here the nuts may be cut from long lengths of rolled stock of the profile revealed in Fig. 17 and the tapped holes then provided. The collars 41 and 48' project from the square neck 49 on only two sides and are flush with the neck on the other two sides.

For reinforcing, or providing additional backing for, the layer elements at points intermediate the upright Z bars 20, it is often desirable to employ horizontal rail strips 55, and this gives rise to the problem of expeditiously mounting the rail strips on the Z bars. For this purpose I have provided U bolts 56, the two free legs of which are threaded and the connecting reach of which, at its midpoint, is provided with a pair of spaced collars 51 with a squared neck 58 between the collars 51. v

In the web 21 of each Z bar a keyhole shaped slot 59 is provided. Each slot 59 comprises a circular head opening and a depending subslot 60. One end of the U bolt is slipped through the slot 59 until the collars 51 straddle the slot,

then the"U bolt is given a hammer blow to seat the squared neck 58 in the subslot 60. 'I'his anchors the U bolt with its free ends extending upwardly, one on each side of the web. U bolts are similarly anchored in the slots 59 in the other Z bars 20, except in the instance of the corner Z bars and the channel 2|, wherel one leg of the U bolt may be omitted beyond its collar 51, thus making more of a J bolt.

Rail strips 55, substantially as long as the distance between adjacent webs 21, are then set in horizontal position between the Z bars and dropped down on to the respective U bolts. The rail strips 55 are provided with vertical bolt holes 6| properly spaced to receive the upwardly extending threaded ends of the U bolts. Nuts 62 are then threaded on to the bolts to hold the rail strips 55 against upward dislodgment. The ends of the strips 55v rest upon, and are supported by, the horizontal portions of the U bolts, If desired some of the adjacent layer elements of the insulating lining may be nailed to the rail strips V55 as indicated at 63 in Fig. 2.

Even though the keyhole slots in the webs of the Z bars are standardized, the use of the rails is left optional, IThe U bolts and J bolts for mounting the rails are structurally simple,in expensive, and easily and quickly applied without tools,vsave for a hammer or other simple tool to deliver an anchoring blow. But once an-v chored, they are rigid, will not turn, and willA plate that many changes and substitutions in superposed layer members on, and extending between, the frame members as an insulating lining of the wall, the mounting means comprising keyhole shaped slots in the plate-like portions,

and collar bolts anchored at their head ends with a drive fit in the slots (the bolts being applicable to the slots from the lining side of the plate-like portions) and having their free ends rigidly protruding at normals to the wall and adapted simultaneously to receive each said layer member by punching their own holes therethrough, each collar bolt having an integral head, an integral collarspaced from the head to accommodate with a snug t the thickness of the plate-like portion, a non-circular neck between the head and co1- lar for non-rotatably traversing the sub-slot of the keyhole shaped slot, and a free-ended shank extending from the collar oppositely from the neck and threaded inwardly from its free end for receiving a. nut for clamping the layer members to the frame members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the collar is contoured to restrain it from Afollowing the head through the keyhole shaped slot.

3. A sidewall construction comprising spaced vertical upright frame members having inner and outer ilanges, sheet metal plates secured to the outer flanges to constitute outer sheathing for the wall, bolts, longer than the distance between the inner flanges and the plates, anchored by their head ends to the inner flanges and extend inwardly therefrom, a plurality of superposed insulating layers lying along the inner sides of the uprights and penetrated by the bolts, wood strips paralleling the uprights and secured by the bolts to compress the insulating layers between the strips and uprights, and lining sheathing nailed to the strips at the sides thereof opposite `the uprights, each bolt comprising a shank, a`

preformed integral head, a preformed 'integral collar spaced therefrom, and a' fiat'sided neck between the head and collar, and the inner flanges of the uprights having keyhole shaped slots, each of the slots mounting one of the bolts with the bolt head passed through the slot and the neck non-rotatably engaged in its subslot with a drive fit between the i'iange and bolt,

the head and collar having opposed parallel faces' engaging the respective at sides of the ange to hold the bolt rigidly against axial or angular displacement.

4. A side wall construction comprising frame members in the wall having inwardly facing plate-like portions, a sheet-like layerof .insulating material extending across the inside ofthe frame members along side the plate-like portions, strips along the inner side of the layer, and collar bolts extending between the strips and plate-like portions and through the, layer for engaging the strips for pulling them against the plate-like portions with the layer therebetween, and lining sheathing onthe inner side of, and secured to, the strips, the plate-like portions, at

each bolt, having keyhole shaped slots therethrough, and each bolt comprising a shank, a head at one end adapted to pass through the slot, a fixed collar spaced inwardly therefrom by a distance accommodating tightly the thickness of the plate-like portion, and a neck between the head and collar lying in the sub-slot of the keyhole shaped slot, the bolt being anchored in the slot by a drive t rigidly against axial and angular displacement.

5. A side wall construction according to claim 4 wherein the necks of the bolts have opposed flat sides for engaging the opposed margins of the sub-slots for vlocking the bolts against rotation.

6. A side wall having spaced steel frame members inwardly presenting flanges in the plane of the wall, keyhole shaped slots in the ilanges, bolts mounted at their head ends in the slots of the ilanges and having their free ends protruding inwardly beyond the flanges and anchored against axial and angular displacement and a sheet of insulating material through which thebolts pass. the bolts receiving and punching their own holes through the sheet of insulating material when it is moved broadside thereupon, each bolt comprising an integral preformed head adapted to pass through the slot and engaging the outer side of the flange, an integral preformed collar spaced from Ithe head and engaging the inner side of the ilange, a neck between the head and collar and disposed in the sub-slot of the slot, and an inwardly protruding threaded free ended shank, the neck being of cross section not substantially weaker than that of the shank.

'7. A side wall according to claim 6 in which the neck of each bolt is squared for non-rotatable slot.

8. In a wall construction the combination of l frame members `in the wall having inwardly presented ilanges in the plane of the wall, keyhole shaped slots extending through the flanges, a bolt removably anchored in each slot and having ahead engaging the outward face of the associated flange, a collar spaced therefrom engaging the inward face of the ilange. a necktherebetween disposed in the sub-slot and contoured for non-rotatable engagement with the sub-slot and an inwardly protruding free-ended shank, and a plurality of superposed insulating sheets at the inward side of the wall and along side the ilanges and through which the bolts extend punchedwise, the combination being in a transitory arrangement where the sheets are supported by the protruding bolt shanks and restrained from passing oi the free ends of the bolts solely by friction between the bolt shanks and the sheets.

9. In a wall construction, the combination of I a series of spaced parallel frame members having wardly diercted free ended legs threaded down wardly from their free ends, web reaches connecting the lower ends of the legs, a pair of spaced col ars at a mld-point of the web reach,

one f the collars being of an overall size adapted to :pass through the slot and the opposed faces of the collars engaging the respective sides of the web portions, and a at sided neck portion between the collars disposed in the sub-slot of the slot and having non-rotational engagement with the margins of the sub-slot. Y

10. The combination with a vertical wall and a wood lining for the insid of the wall, of means for mounting the lining on the wall, the mounting means comprising a plurality of plate-like por- -tions rigidly carried by, and parallel with, the

wall, keyhole-shaped slots in lthe plate portions with the plate portions being spaced inwardly from the walls to. leave a space behind the plate portions at the region of the slots, a bolt rigidly anchoredin each slot for ready removal therefrom in its preformed entirety, each bolt comprising a shank threaded inwardly from one end,

of its flat with an edge of the sub-slot, and the i juxtaposed faces of the head and collar being parallel, and in iirm contact with the faces of.

the plate portion adjoining the sub-slot, to maintain the bolt rigidly at a normal to the wall and protruding inwardly therefrom, furring strips having holes through which the bolts exten-d, nuts on the bolts for clamping -the furring strips to the wall, and nails driven through the lining and into the furring strips for securing the lining to the strips inwardly thereof.

11. A wall construction wherein there is a primary metal wall including an outer sheathing and stiffening reinforcement therefor, a wood lin.. ing presenting a smooth inside surface for the wall, furring strips between the primary wall and the lining, to which the lining is nailed, and bolts clamping the furring strips to the primary wall, characterized by each bolt comprising a shank threaded back from one end, a head at its other end, a collar surrounding the bolt at an axially spaced distance from .the head, and a flatted neck between the head and collar of a cross-section no i-l weaker than the shank, plate-like portions rigidly carried by the primary wall parallel thereto .and spaced inwardly from the sheathing to leave bolt head clearance spaces, a keyhole slot in each plate-like portion for mounting the head end of a bolt, the head of the keyhole slot being slightly larger than the bolt head to permit its passage therethrough and the sub-slot making snug contact with the flat of the neck to prevent rotation of the bolt and the juxtaposed facesn of the head and collar being spaced ap'art snugly to t the respective sides of the plate-like portions adjoining the sub-slot whereby to maintain the bolt rigidly at a normal to the primary wall of the threaded end of the bolt extending :inwardly therefrom, holes in the furring strips through which the bolts extend, and nuts on the bolts for clamping the furring stripsto the primary Wall.

FREDERICK W. SCHULTZ. 

